Citizens, environmental activists and civil society representatives assembled in Skanderbeg Square carrying Albanian flags and banners bearing the slogan “Albania is not for sale”, calling for the project to be scrapped.

The protest, which began as opposition to the planned investment in Zvërnec, has broadened to include wider political demands. Demonstrators called for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, urged opposition leader Sali Berisha to step down, and advocated institutional reforms including term limits for prime ministers and an independent judiciary.

Organisers set up an open microphone outside the Prime Minister’s office, allowing participants to address the crowd for up to three minutes each.

Students also joined today’s rally, carrying banners critical of the government and calling for Rama’s resignation.

Chants of “We want justice” were heard as protesters, many of them young people, marched along the capital’s main “Martyrs of the Nation” Boulevard.

Organisers urged protesters not to interfere with Israeli flags displayed along the boulevard as part of Israel Cultural Week events in Albania.

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